Using biodiesel and various

[bludev]

I have used 100% biodiesel in my tractor (Mahindra 6500), truck (duramax chevy), and car (05 VW Passat) with no problems other than a few clogged fuel filters in the first couple of tanks. I do get my fuel from a commercial source, who has been a pioneer in the bio-diesel industry here in North Carolina. I usually run a 50/50 mix in the winter just to be on the safe side because 100% "bd" will gel in cold weather. And "bd" does have a detergent property that will clean your fuel tank (the reason for clogged filters at first).

BTW, CaseIH and I'm assuming New Holland have approved 100% "bd" in their tractors ... it is rather ironic that other tractor manufacturers will not approve something that could help there sales ("bd" come from the oils produced by soy beans and canola among other plants) and their customers (farmers).
If I had known that Case and New Holland were approving b100 in their equipment and Mahindra wouldn't, I would be driving a different make of red tractor now.

The big thing for me in this whole "bd" discussion is that I too am trying to be as carbon nnutral as possible with my farming ... I guess that makes me an outcast

 

[dirtdabbler]

Hello all, I'm a new member and haven't posted much here, I have look into this BD thing and have for the last couple of years made my own... Built the processor or reactor Ect..ect.. Too I agree with much of what has been said here... All that I have read here are true in biofuels... The cold weather and clogging... But I think I can add some things that can help a little...

Fuel lines...

Bio deisel will eat rubber lines.. and this can contribute to filter clogging... As well as injector problems and build up of certain residues in the engine... Although things seem to run alright and engine that should last 20, 30 ,40 years may only last ten if certain things aren't taken in account....

In some that I made... I had a rubber washer laying on a table in a puddle of BD, it melted it... So if you have rubber lines as some of the lower HP ranges do... Straite BD will do much damage... If there are any rubber gaskets or washers in the fuel injectors beware.... If your fuel lines are made out of a rubber ((that can withstand the properties of BD)), and too that clean your tank and lines, that can later lead to filter clogging from a percentage mixure? Then that isn't a problem.. Poly etholine lined rubber fuel line will probably work ok... SOme interior rubber lines are coated with that hard plastic liner, but I don't see them on mahindra but haven't tore them apart to really check either and I have owned two mahindra 2615 and now new 4110....

The New desiel engines from Mahindra especially in the lower HP range are very fuel efficient and MAhindra designed these engines with standard desiel grade fuels not blends or Mixtures of varing fuels or oils... It's true that a desiel engines can burn alot of different oils, but too the systems that feed the oils are what the issues end up being.... What differs from BD and Veg blends and what BD producers crow about is fatty acids..

BD transterifacation converts using ethenol or methanol and a reactant... This is usually a processor for used oils because they contain higher levels of fat from the cooked foods... Transterifacation converts the fatty acids into a Glycern extract... But Veg oils that boast O% fat often are used in blends don't... BD also is about a balance of lubrication and engine ware... Too the rates of combustionable material in the fuels which can harm or cause a tractor to run incorrectly... Why many caution about additives and blends... Its all about balance... It's Why You have a standard 5 % mixture in most OK,, Go ahead...... This can help keep a clean engines while keeping within the low risk of injector damage, line damage.

Mahindra says NO blends because their engines fuel delivery systems are designed around standards of desiel which contained the right balance of lubrication and combustable properties....

DD

 

[Poboy]

I would not run Bio diesel in my tractor . I have a Mahindra 6000 in the shop here now that a guy has been running a veggie oil mixture in and the injectors are bad and the pump my be bad also. The fuel tank and lines were full of gunk and the rubber fuel lines were very soft . So i know i would not put it in anything i own but hey that`s just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions

 

[dirtdabbler]

I would not run Bio diesel in my tractor . I have a Mahindra 6000 in the shop here now that a guy has been running a veggie oil mixture in and the injectors are bad and the pump my be bad also. The fuel tank and lines were full of gunk and the rubber fuel lines were very soft . So i know i would not put it in anything i own but hey that`s just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions

That's the smart thing to do to avoid later problems....

Most people that run biofuel only run 5% at the most, but would like to run more... Guy's next to me farm about 5000 acres and burn 5% BD in their big John Deer's...
I respect the efforts of many in operating more clean in respect for the envirement... Not just land concservation... If you have steel fuel lines then you have eliminated one pausable cause of a problem with your tractor... In many cases BIO Diesel is almost like an addative just in larger quantaties...

There are many things that determine the Life of an engine and injector pump. Clean fuel is a good start... Because BD acts like a system cleaner as well as being a fuel substiute... Often engines and systems that are old? Accumulate over the years a build up of things that become potential problems... Filter replacements are the first things done even at 5% BD in most AMerican made tractors.. Not sure there is such a thing any more as American made, but usually those are the folks who will know if you can or can't with an explination....

I think in most cases it is about the standards of fuels and the delivery systems... It's a gray area for most of us... I think the Engines themslves for the most part are pretty Resilient, but it's not only that... It's the byproducts of combustion and their build up that can determine the life of an engine... If the filters can't screen the dirty fuels and I don't just mean dirt either... Over years of buildup some things desolve into and become part of the fuel like BD and combustion creates residues in the piston, cylynders area... I think these are some of the concerns of Manufactures... Just what is in certain addatives and fuels and the long term affects.... It's true that in some engines that are old, they don't seem to mind the fuels, once you get past the initial cleaning that a system goes through when BD's are used in percentage mixtures... But I think too there should be genuine concerns when trying such things in the new systems. These may have fewer tolerances for the extremes that are beyond the original design which lead to greater od lesser failure beyond the norm.....

Here is what I think about all of it anyway... I think we should be very careful about what we do beyond the scope of the intended manufacture... I think it's ok to go by some old clunker and see what happens and I think people who do such things should also make others aware of what they have been doing, that may effect the normal percieved life of a tractor... JUst because the warrenty is out, doesn't make it right! Because people often sell their peviously owned equipment to others, who are left with pausible greater problems...